tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Microbes Infect
. 2020 Oct 8;1-36.
doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1833687. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease and transmission in domestic cats
Natasha N Gaudreault[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessie D Trujillo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mariano Carossino[SUP] 2 [/SUP], David A Meekins[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Igor Morozov[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniel W Madden[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sabarish V Indran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Dashzeveg Bold[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Velmurugan Balaraman[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Taeyong Kwon[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bianca Libanori Artiaga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Konner Cool[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Adolfo Garc?a-Sastre[SUP] 3 4 5 6 [/SUP], Wenjun Ma[SUP] 1 [/SUP], William C Wilson[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Jamie Henningson[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Udeni B R Balasuriya[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Juergen A Richt[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and responsible for the current pandemic. Recent SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and transmission studies in cats show that the virus can replicate in these companion animals and transmit to other cats. Here, we present an in-depth study of SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease and transmission dynamics in domestic cats. Six 4-5 month-old cats were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 via intranasal and oral routes simultaneously. One day post challenge (DPC), two sentinel cats were co-mingled with the principal infected animals. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, clinicopathological abnormalities and viral shedding for 21 DPC. Postmortem examinations were performed at 4, 7 and 21 DPC to investigate disease progression. Viral RNA was not detected in blood but transiently in nasal, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as various tissues. Tracheobronchoadenitis of submucosal glands with the presence of viral RNA and antigen was observed in airways of the infected cats on 4 and 7 DPC. Serology showed that both, principals and sentinels, developed SARS-CoV-2-specific and neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 detectable at 7 DPC or 10 DPC, respectively. All animals were clinically asymptomatic during the course of the study and capable of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to sentinels within 2 days of comingling. The results of this study are critical for understanding the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 in a naturally susceptible host species, and for risk assessment of the maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in felines and transmission to other animals and humans.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cats; felines; pets; transmission.
. 2020 Oct 8;1-36.
doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1833687. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease and transmission in domestic cats
Natasha N Gaudreault[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessie D Trujillo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mariano Carossino[SUP] 2 [/SUP], David A Meekins[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Igor Morozov[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniel W Madden[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sabarish V Indran[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Dashzeveg Bold[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Velmurugan Balaraman[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Taeyong Kwon[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bianca Libanori Artiaga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Konner Cool[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Adolfo Garc?a-Sastre[SUP] 3 4 5 6 [/SUP], Wenjun Ma[SUP] 1 [/SUP], William C Wilson[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Jamie Henningson[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Udeni B R Balasuriya[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Juergen A Richt[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33028154
- DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1833687
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and responsible for the current pandemic. Recent SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and transmission studies in cats show that the virus can replicate in these companion animals and transmit to other cats. Here, we present an in-depth study of SARS-CoV-2 infection, disease and transmission dynamics in domestic cats. Six 4-5 month-old cats were challenged with SARS-CoV-2 via intranasal and oral routes simultaneously. One day post challenge (DPC), two sentinel cats were co-mingled with the principal infected animals. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, clinicopathological abnormalities and viral shedding for 21 DPC. Postmortem examinations were performed at 4, 7 and 21 DPC to investigate disease progression. Viral RNA was not detected in blood but transiently in nasal, oropharyngeal and rectal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as various tissues. Tracheobronchoadenitis of submucosal glands with the presence of viral RNA and antigen was observed in airways of the infected cats on 4 and 7 DPC. Serology showed that both, principals and sentinels, developed SARS-CoV-2-specific and neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 detectable at 7 DPC or 10 DPC, respectively. All animals were clinically asymptomatic during the course of the study and capable of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to sentinels within 2 days of comingling. The results of this study are critical for understanding the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 in a naturally susceptible host species, and for risk assessment of the maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in felines and transmission to other animals and humans.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cats; felines; pets; transmission.